Control panel

• US 6,421,046 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saab Automobile AB (China Evergrande Group)
• Original Assignee: Saab Automobile AB (China Evergrande Group)
• Inventors: Edgren, Claes
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/555,002
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/168-173, 345/184, 345/905, 745/55, 746/12, 200/332.1, 200/332.2, 200/338, 220/338, 163/28, 163/30, 340/901, 340/691.1, 340/691.6
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A control panel, in particular for motor vehicles, has a screen (3) and, arranged on the latter, a number of control elements (4) for controlling the function of works units which are connected to the control panel. A first group (5) of control elements can be moved relative to the screen (3) between a first position over the screen and a second position alongside the screen. In the first position, the screen is divided up into separate fields (9, 10) with different display information, and in the second position the whole screen forms a single field. It is possible to switch between these field divisions by moving the first group (5) of control elements between the said positions.

Claims

1. Control panel, with a screen (3) and a number of control elements (4) arranged on the latter for controlling the function of work units which are connected to the control panel, information related to the function which has been selected for the work units via the control elements being displayed on the screen, characterized in that a first group (5) of control elements can be moved relative to the screen (3) between a first position essentially over the screen and a second position alongside the screen, in that in the first position the screen (3) is divided up into separate fields (9, 10) with different display information, in that in the second position the whole screen forms a single field (11) with predetermined display information, and in that it is possible to switch between these field divisions by moving the first group (5) of control elements between the first and second position, and vice versa.

2. Control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the first group (5) of control elements is arranged on a support (7) which can be displaced across the screen and which is arranged to delimit a first field (9) and a second field (10) from each other in the first position of the first group (5) of control elements.

3. Control panel according to claim 2, characterized in that the support (7) is elongate and extends across the screen (3), and in that its two end parts are mounted in such a way that it can be displaced in a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction.

4. Control panel according to claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal direction of the support (7) is horizontal.

5. Control panel according to claims 2, characterized in that the support (7) can be locked in at least the position it is in when the first group (5) of control elements is in its first position.

6. Control panel according to claim 5, characterized in that the screen, in the position in which it shows a single field (11), is preferably arranged for map display.

7. Control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the first group (5) of control elements is arranged, in its second position, to at least partially cover a second group (6) of control elements situated alongside the screen (3) and, in its first position, to leave the second group of control elements free.

8. Control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the first group (5) of control elements is arranged, in its second position, to act on the screen'"'"'s single field (11) and, in its first position, to act at least on one of the two fields (9, 10) into which the screen is divided in this position.

9. Control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended for the instrument panel in a motor vehicle, and in that one (10) of the two fields of the screen, when the screen is divided up into separate fields (9, 10), shows settings in the vehicle'"'"'s climate control system.

10. Control panel according to claim 9, characterized in that the second (9) of the two fields of the screen, when the screen is divided up into separate fields (9, 10), shows settings in the vehicle'"'"'s sound system.